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Politics: Roland Dumas, a loyal follower of François Mitterand, dies at the age of 101
François Mitterrand’s former foreign minister, Roland Dumas, has died at the age of 101. The renowned lawyer, a member of the Resistance in his younger years and an art lover, had also held the presidency of the Constitutional Council before being caught up in the ELF affair.
Roland Dumasor the story of loyalty to his political family: the socialists. He was also unfailingly loyal to François Mitterrand. They met in 1956, fascinated by each other. A leading lawyer, Roland Dumas became François Mitterrand’s lawyer, before abandoning the black robe to follow him into politics, becoming a member of parliament. In May 1981, he was in the front row of the faithful during the march to the Pantheon. He then held a series of portfolios: Minister of European Affairs, then of Foreign Affairs from 1988 to 1993. François Mitterrand then appointed him President of the Constitutional Council.
But Roland Dumas also had a dark side. Caught up in the political-judicial saga of the ELF affair, he was caught between searches and the exposure of his tumultuous love affair with Christine-Joncour. He was sentenced to six months in prison, before being acquitted at second instance.
In 2010, he went to Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) to support President Laurent Gbagbo, even though he was no longer recognized by the international community. “Freedom of speech,” he proclaimed at the time.
He also defended comedian Dieudonné after his anti-Semitic remarks, and appeared with figures from the extreme right. From flamboyant lawyer to politician with a career tarnished by scandal, Roland Dumas died at the age of 101.
